22 Suspects Detained Near Mosul
In continued action in the War against Terror, Coalition soldiers operating in North Central Iraq raided an Al Qaeda stronghold, and arrested 22 suspected terrorists and Al Qaeda affiliated insurgents. One of the suspects is an alleged Al Qaeda local leader that is believed responsible for helping finance terror network cells in the Mosul area, and has associations with senior level foreign operatives believed involved in terrorist activity in Iran, Syria and overseas.
Acting on a tip from members of the Sons of Iraq organization, coalition forces arrested two other suspects believed associated with this terror leader. All three terrorist suspects are being transported to Mosul for additional questioning and interrogation.
Two suspects were detained in an unrelated incident near Samara, dealing with associates of Abu Yasir Al Saudi, also referred to by the name of Jar Allah. Jar Allah is the Saudi member of Al Qaeda believed killed in Iraq in fierce fighting with Coalition and Iraqi Army forces on February 27th. These two suspects are believed to have been in the inner circle of the terror cell sponsored by Jar Allah.
In Albu Bakr village, west of the Iraqi Hamrin Mountains Iraqi Army working with Coalition forces are conducting a series of operations to target a number of Al Qaeda propaganda cells operating in Iraq and Iran. In a house to house search of the Albu Bakr village, troops discovered a small cache of weapons including assault vests, equipment belts, anti aircraft ammunition, and machine gun weapons.
“These raids and weapons discoveries, and arrests show that our efforts are working against Al Qaeda and terrorist activity in general,” said Major Winfield Danielson. “The citizens of Iraq want what we all do – freedom, being able to live in peace without terror, and to be able to raise their children in safety,” said Major Danielson.